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Lions RB Joique Bell: 'My heart has never left here'

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Joique Bell

Allen Park – Joique Bell never wanted to leave the Detroit Lions, but he also never gave up on a potential return.

After an NFC North tour that included a four-game stint with the Chicago Bears and a tryout with the Green Bay Packers, he’s found his way back home to Detroit.

Bell’s persistence with Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn probably didn’t hurt.

“Me and Bob had been in contact with each other over time,” Bell said. “When I left the Bears, I texted him back, ‘Bring me home.’ He sent me a text the other day, ‘Do you want to come home?’”

Detroit has been home for Bell for a long time. The Benton Harbor native made a name for himself at Wayne State, where he won the Harlon Hill trophy in 2009 as Division II’s best player. After going undrafted, Bell bounced around several NFL rosters and practice squads before the Lions signed him toward the end of the 2011 season.

Over the next four seasons, he appeared in 60 games for the Lions, racking up 2,241 rushing yards and another 1,640 receiving. But after a down year in 2015, the Lions parted ways with the veteran, clearing cap room and a path for bigger contributions for the younger backs on the roster.

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“He’s always been a very, very positive guy, a very, very good locker room guy – lot of energy, loves to play the game,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “And he’s a good, tough runner as well. He’s alright with the ball in his hands throwing it to him, also. So there’s a number of different things that he can do.”

It’s unclear what Bell offers the Lions. He’s obviously familiar with the playbook, but it’s a crowded, albeit banged-up, depth chart at his position. He weighs 223 pounds, a shade lighter than he was last season, but it was tough to discern how much tread remains on the tires after he registered just three carries while in Chicago.

None of that could temper Bell’s enthusiasm to be back in Detroit’s locker room.

“I think I can contribute a lot, whether it’s playing offense, special teams, coaching up the young guys,” Bell said. “It’s great to get back and I’m excited.”

While not with a team during these recent stretches, he has enjoyed the extra time with his family. It also gave him time to finish up his studies at Wayne State. The timing of re-signing with the Lions happened to work out perfectly for Bell, who will graduate with his master’s in sports administration this weekend.

“I always preach that to the kids I’m trying to mentor, the kids that come to my camps, how important education is,” Bell said. “For me to be able to walk across that stage on Saturday, I don’t want to tell them to do something I haven’t done.”

Asked what he wanted to do with the degree, Bell quipped, “Some day, never know, might be working with Bob Quinn.”

But for now, the focus is back on football. Bell said he expects to have more than 30 family members and friends in the stands at Ford Field cheering him on. He’ll need to make sure to tell them he has a new uniform number.

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Formerly No. 35 in the program, that number is now worn by rookie safety Miles Killebrew. With his new pick, No. 44, Bell is paying homage one of his former teammates.

“It’s Jahvid Best,” Bell said. “I’ve got to represent for my boy. He went to the Olympics this year.”

Best’s career prematurely ended due to concussions, but in his second-to-last game in a Lions uniform, he had his most memorable run. On Monday night, against the Bears, Best burst through the middle of his line and blew past every defender for an 88-yard touchdown, the longest of his career.

Bell might not even rush for 88 yards the final five games. Maybe it doesn’t matter, because he gets to put on that Lions jersey at least one more time and that means the world to him.

“At the end of the day, my heart has never left here,” Bell said. “My family is here, I played most of my career here and I kind of built my foundation here.”

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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